Tortoises are turtles which live on land and belong to the reptile family of the order Testudines. Like their cousins the sea turtle, they have a shell to protect them from predators. The top part of the shell is known as the carapace and the bottom side is known as the plastron. Tortoises have both an exoskeleton and an endoskeleton. They are active during the day and early evening and tend to be reclusive animals.
Because there are many types of Tortoises, ranging in size from a few centimetres to two meters, prior to considering one for a pet, a prospective owner should do a lot of research into the type of Tortoise she or he is interested in acquiring.
Different species of Tortoises have different diet requirements. Most of them are herbivores, meaning that they feed on grasses, weeds, leafy greens, alfalfa, clover, dandelions, flowers and certain fruits. It is not recommended that they be fed Tortoise pellets as these pellets contain too much protein which can lead to medical problems. Because Tortoises require extra calcium, calcium carbonate can be ground up and sprinkled on their greens.
Tortoises are also temperature sensitive. Usually it is a good idea to bring your Tortoise indoors at night. And when the weather is cold, they should be kept inside. But this can be a big problem if the Tortoise is large in size. Some species also hibernate during winter. This can be really stressful for the animal as well as the owners. The owners should provide the pet with hibernation facilities, otherwise the pet will suffer from stress and could even die.
If your Tortoise is large, a pen can be constructed in the yard, where the Tortoise can live (provided that your climate is within the temperature ranges for the species of Tortoise that you own). The pen should be really strong and the fences should be buried deep as some Tortoises have a tendency to dig. They are also very strong reptiles. They can easily break weaker walls. In addition, some Tortoises are good climbers, so the pen should also be provided with a roof. The roof also saves the Tortoise from other dangers such as dog bites and bird attacks. The owner must check for possible threats to the pet within the pen itself. Some plants can be harmful if the Tortoise feeds on them. So, make sure that only edible plants are kept in the pen.
Your Tortoise should be provided with water, but the water body should be shallow, so that the Tortoise doesn’t drown in it. Things which are sharp or which can be chewed and not digested by your Tortoise shouldn’t be kept in the pen. Try and ensure that your Tortoise does not have anything which it can climb. If it slips and falls onto its back, it may not be able to right itself and this could prove to be fatal.
Some species grow really big, so this factor should be considered while building the pen. In fact, this factor should be considered when first buying the Tortoise. Different species grow to different sizes; have different dietary habits, living conditions and temperature adaptability. Beginners should certainly go for a captive bred Tortoise, as they are less troublesome than the ones that come directly from the wild. Also when Tortoises are captured from the wild and transported, there are chances that they can fall ill or even die because of high levels of stress. Also wild Tortoises carry a wide range of parasites, which can be harmful for the owner as well as the Tortoise and other pets in the home. When the potential owner thinks of buying a Tortoise, it should get thoroughly examined for parasites and other diseases by a veterinarian.
Tortoises prefer to stay alone. Unless you plan on breeding Tortoises, a female Tortoise is not a good idea and two male Tortoises should never be kept together as they can fight and injure each other very seriously. Tortoises have a very long lifespan. Some can live up to 150 years. Therefore, there can be the possibility of the pet outliving the owner, so the owner should have everything planned and should make a lifetime commitment when considering getting a Tortoise as a pet.
Until next time,
Teia
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